Faith and Values: School is out but learning is in

June 01, 2012|The Rev. Dr. Christine Nelson, Special to The Morning Call

"O God, from my youth you have taught me, and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds. So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to all the generations to come."

— Psalm 71:17

I still remember how excited I was every spring as we approached the end of the school year. Summer was coming! Even though that meant exchanging school for working on my parents' farm, the possibilities summer held in my mind were endless: swimming, softball, bike riding, reading what I wanted to read instead of school books. It was going to be a blast!

Then reality set in. I remember one summer when my mother decided to go to work in a local factory and assigned me the task of running the house. At last, master of my own time. Well, not exactly. What mom meant was I had to clean and cook and take care of my little brother and sister. Not my idea of a summer vacation. But that was the summer I learned skills that have served me well all my life.

The skills of cooking, cleaning, taking care of yourself and caring for others are still vitally needed today. If they are not learned early on both the person and society will suffer. Local Allen and Dieruff youth share such an opportunity through the Lehigh County Conference of Churches Aspires Mentoring Teen Iron Chef program, empowering the students to challenge themselves on a skills level while practicing being part of a team effort.

Dieruff senior Josh shares: "Before I started, it was pretty much cereal for me, maybe microwave stuff. Now I'm going for the gold." Adds sophomore Yamiles: "I can't cook a meal all by myself for 12 to 20 people. We just have to work together. And after we cook, we all sit together and eat like a family, a second family."

Sharing recipes, learning about nutrition, trying out kitchen skills, and most importantly developing listening and caring capacities equate to lifelong know-how. In a nation that seems to become more individualistic and overweight and quarrelsome every day, these talents are priceless.

Our psalmist reminds us of an even more important skill to develop: learning from God. Life has its ups and downs. People will fail us and we will fail them. What we have today can be gone tomorrow. There is really only one constant and comfort in life: our faithful God whose power and graciousness and reach is farther than the highest heavens or the deepest hell.

This is the season of graduations, summer jobs, summer schools, Vacation Bible Schools, summer camps and yes, even summer responsibilities at home. Young people are looking to find themselves as they seek new experiences. Be there for them. "Nothing is so potent as the silent influence of a good example," says James Kent.

The life and ministry of Jesus is not a pious idea. It is a life-changing insurrection. "My things" are no longer mine. Once one realizes all we are and all we have are a gift from God for the benefit of all, nothing is the same. Gratitude moves from an occasional "thank you" to a life dedicated to giving back to the God who first loved us.

So this summer make a difference. School someone in the lessons of life and the lessons of God. And in the spirit of the great evangelist John Wesley: "when necessary use words."

The Rev. Dr. Christine Nelson is the executive director of the Lehigh County Conference of Churches, a faith-based nonprofit dedicated to helping congregations and the community put faith into action to assist the poorest of the poor in the Lehigh Valley. Contact her through http://www.lehighchurches.org.